What
does Sand Cast mean?

Sand cast items are Indian
Hand Made items using a procedure developed by the Navajo silversmiths in the
mid 1800s. It is a labor-intensive process that involves many steps.

Using
Tuff Stone, a porous rock from volcanic ash, Tufa Stone, a porous
limestone that forms near hot springs, or Sandstone, a harder stone, the
artist carves the design of the item being cast. Another flat stone is placed
against the carved half of the mold. The halves are fastened together and a sprue
hole is carved into one end. Molten silver is poured into the mold using the
sprue hole. Once the silver cools, the item is taken out and finished. Bracelets
are poured flat and then shaped.

Due to the porous
nature of Tuff or Sand Stone, sandcast items will have character marks and
imperfections such as small pits. That is the nature of Sand Casting and Indian
Hand Made.

TURQUOISE is associated with
the sky, and bringing sky energy to earth. It is known as a master healer stone
as it is believed to help speed the healing process. It is also thought that turquoise
can help promote honest and clear communication from the heart.

Turquoisecomes
in all shades of blue, to blue-green and it is the natural variations in turquoise
that make it appealing. The color of turquoise in American Indian jewelry ranges
from brownish green to bright blue. Found in veins sandwiched in between layers
of mother rock, turquoise can show some of the influence of the mother rock in
its matrix or veining. The matrix colors range from blue to golden brown to black
and sometimes with golden flecks. Many people prefer turquoise with matrix over
clear stones. Read more
about stones.

Stabilized Kingman
Turquoise

The Kingman mine, located in Mohave
County, Arizona, has been operated by the Colbaugh family since the 1970's. It
is known for producing bright blue stones with white and black matrix, considered
by many to be the best turquoise in North America. Old authentic
natural Kingman turquoise is extremely rare.

In
the 1950s S. A. "Chuck" Colbaugh developed a modern method for stabilizing
the color and strength of turquoise. It is an expensive process that takes over
3 months to assure that the turquoise does not crack while being treated. Basically,
the moisture is removed from the stone and replaced with an optically clear resin,
the same type as used in jet fighter windows. The turquoise is then allowed to
dry naturally for two to three months. Although other mines
have turquoise stabilization facilities, those at the Kingman mine are widely
regarded as the best.

Marty Colbaugh (Chuck Colbaugh's
grandson) now runs the Kingman mine and continues the stabilizing tradition began
by his grandfather. He says if natural turquoise is not treated, it can become
oxidized with oils from the skin and change color. The products that Kingman uses
for stabilizing turquoise are clear and no dyes are ever used so the natural turquoise
color is preserved and no discoloration occurs.